Little Bird (2023) s01e03 Episode Script

1
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[WHISPERING]: The day
my children were taken.
The day my children were taken.
I'm a good mother.
I'm strong. Keep it together.
[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
I'm a good mother.
I'm a good mother.
Go on.
[WOMAN]: All rise.
Judge Fleming presiding.
Welcome.
Counsel.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Leading up to the removal
of the Little Bird children,
the social workers
who were present noted
a number of signs of neglect,
including inadequate food,
unfit living conditions,
and a sick child kept in a crawlspace
under the floor as a part
of some type of punishment.
[FLEMING]: What's the
recommendation, Counsel?
[COUNSEL]: My recommendation
is that the children
who are now in foster care and thriving
become permanent wards
of the Crown and be given
a fair chance of integration
into Canadian society.
[FLEMING]: Will the representative
of the Little Bird family corroborate?
Thank you kindly, Counsel.
[CLEARING HER THROAT] I can confirm
that this report is accurate and true
and matches my notes on
the situation that we found.
I would like to add that the father is
no longer in the picture.
The mother is all alone.
Therefore, I am in full support
of Counsel's recommendation.
[FLEMING]: Can you confirm that the
children are thriving in foster care?
Oh, yes. And there has
been significant interest
in all three children
from very good homes
who are looking to adopt.
[FLEMING]: This court finds
that it's in the best interest
of the children that they become
permanent wards of the Crown.
Thank you, Counsel. [GAVEL TAPS ONCE]
[WOMAN]: All rise!
- I I have this to say.
- It's over.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[BAWLING AND WAILING]
[MAN SPEAKING INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE]
["I REMEMBER YOU" SUNG
BY BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE]
Hey, little bird, I remember you ♪
You with your dreams up
higher than you could fly ♪
Hey, I remember you ♪
Hey, hey, little bird ♪
Lost in the summer sun ♪
Those were the days when
your feathers were new ♪
And I remember you ♪
Little bird ♪
Now it's all coming back ♪
The whole world is your habitat ♪
But more than that ♪
If we meet again, will you know me? ♪
So, little bird ♪
Flash your colours and I will sing ♪
Glide into time with
the moon on your wing ♪
Little bird ♪
Little bird ♪
Little bird ♪
Like a gull of the sea ♪
Your resting place ♪
Could be heaven or countless oceans ♪
Far from me ♪
Hi, sweetheart. Come here.
Give me a hug. Ohhh!
- How was your day?
- Cool.
[KID LAUGHING]
[ADELE]: Where did you find this ball?
Next door?
[GIRL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Oh! Who's winning?
Oh-ho-ho!
- [CAR DOOR SLAMS]
- [ADELE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Did you follow me to my house?
Well, I thought that maybe you might
talk to me in a less formal setting.
You can't come to my home!
Look, I wouldn't normally do this,
but I felt like you were
about to say something
- I can't help you.
- I know,
but I know this isn't how
this is supposed to go.
But what if your daughter
never got to meet your son?
[ADELE SIGHS]
I just don't understand what harm
you or child protective
services think it would do.
Come back to the office,
and I'll check with legal.
Legal isn't gonna release
any of my information.
Look, I need to get lunch on.
Wait. Please.
In case you remember something
[WHISPERING]:
Do not come to my house again.
Go inside.
[DOG BARKING]
[GIRL]: Bezhig?
Bezhig, I need you. [CHILD CRYING]
[ESTHER]: Do you have sense
of where Dora might be?
[WOMAN]: I haven't seen
her in five years now.
She ran off.
[ESTHER]: You you didn't
report it to the police?
[YOUNG MAN]: She didn't
run away from home.
She was kicked out.
[PAPER RUSTLING]
[THUNDER GROWLING]
[EXHALES]
Where are you?
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
[TRAIN WHEELS CLANKING ON RAILS]
[TRAFFIC NOISES]
[EXHALES SLOWLY]
[DOOR SQUEAKING] [SECOND DOOR CLOSES]
[TRADITIONAL NATIVE
DRUMMING AND CHANTING]
Ah, you're hurting me!
Stop moving then. Geez!
I love your costume.
It's not a costume.
[MAN GREETING IN OJIBWE]
I was beginning to think
that we were the only Natives
at this hotel. Are you
here for the pow-wow?
Me? No.
I mean, I would have loved to, but
- Where are you from?
- Montreal.
Hahaha! No, where are you from?
I'm not really sure.
Well, say no more. I'm Cliff.
Esther.
But also Bezhig?
Bezhig? Oh, Bezhig?
That means "number one" in Ojibwe.
Ojibwe?
- Where are they from?
- We come from all over the place.
- We spread like wildfire.
- [CLIFF AND ESTHER LAUGH]
[WOMAN]: Cliff! Come
help me with these bags!
[NATIVE DRUMMING AND CHANTING]
I'm gonna dance for you, Bezhig.
[GIRL CRYING]
[GIRL COUGHING]
[WIND BLOWING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[PHONE RINGING]
Hi. I'm hoping you can help me.
I'm looking for any
public document or record
to help me find my sister.
It's 13.55.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Esther Rosenblum?
Here's your girl.
Excuse me.
I need any phone number or address
associated with these charges.
Well, I can't be giving
out personal information.
Okay, sure.
Can you please call
any phone number associated
with these charges and
just ask my sister if she
wants me to have her number?
"Officer called to the scene
on an assault charge."
No phone number.
"819, Attley Street, apartment 108."
Be careful, it's a rough area.
- I'll be fine.
- Sure.
[SIGHS]
[DOG BARKING]
[VEHICLE HONKS TWICE]
[DISTANT INDISTINC
HIP-HOP SONG PLAYING]
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
[INDISTINCT HIP-HOP SONG GETTING LOUDER]
[LOUD HIP-HOP SONG PLAYING]
[HIP-HOP SONG FADING OUT]
[A DOOR OPENS SQUEAKILY]
[VEHICLE HONKING]
[HONKING]
[MUFFLED COUNTRY SONG PLAYING]
[DOG BARKING]
Anybody home?
[ANOTHER DOOR OPENS]
[WOMAN]: Who are you looking for?
Oh, hi. Uh, Dora Mueller?
Oh, heck.
You're about two years too late.
She didn't die or nothing.
She moved.
Well, do you have any
idea where she might be?
Why don't you come in. I made some tea.
Have a seat!
Sure.
[INDISTINCT HYMN PLAYING]
You like that?
Hmm. It's beautiful.
I've had that a long time.
Thank you.
And there's my grandkids.
You're not from around here, eh?
No. Not really.
That's okay.
Oh, thank you.
My name is Esther by the way.
Hmm. Val.
So, you knew Dora?
- [VAL SIGHS]
- That depends. Who's asking?
- She's my sister.
- Really?
Hard to believe, I know.
I got this address from
the police actually.
[VAL LAUGHING]
That's no surprise.
Well, do you know what happened?
Why the police were called?
It's not my place, but
there was this guy.
He is a real loser.
He's jealous.
He didn't like her working the street,
so he tried to rough her up.
So, she beat the crap out of him.
[VAL LAUGHING]
She threw his stuff out the window.
It was hilarious. You
should have seen it.
[CHUCKLING]
She didn't take crap
from nobody, that girl.
Wow.
Well, do you have any idea
where I might find her?
Oy.
I haven't seen her since she moved out.
You could try the outreach centre.
A lot of the girls go there.
It's just over on Albert,
- about 10 blocks from here.
- Thank you.
- I really appreciate your help.
- Well, that's good.
And this tea.
Oh, my girl, look at that!
- Holy!
- Haha!
That's bigger than a snowball
in the bush in winter.
[ESTHER CHUCKLING]
Hey, who gave you this one, lucky girl?
His name is David.
Aaah
Is he nice?
- Yeah.
- Oh. Well, that's good.
It's always nice to have
a sweet guy in your life.
[BIRDS AND INSECTS CHIRPING]
[ENGINE REVVING UP]
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]
But I found you ♪
When I wasn't looking ♪
I thought I closed my eyes ♪
For good ♪
- But I got lucky ♪
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
seen the look on
his ugly fucking face.
[WOMEN LAUGHING]
Dana, the nurse is ready
for you and Jeannetta now.
Set my burdens free ♪
Can I help you?
Lay your love down on me ♪
Can I help you?
Oh! Yes.
I'm looking for my sister.
- Dora Mueller.
- [PHONE RINGING]
Oh These girls know her. Hey.
She's looking for Dora.
She's my sister.
- Get the fuck out of town!
- Didn't know Dora had a sister.
Oh, my God, you look just like her.
- You know her?
- Are you kidding?
Dora's my girl.
Fuck off, she's my girl too.
Well, do you have any
sense of where she might be?
She usually comes
around here on Fridays.
That was for her class,
but I think that's done.
She's getting her GED. I can't
fucking keep track of her.
Wasn't she picking up shifts at that
weird place with the pool tables?
Ronnie's?
- No, Eddy's.
- Yeah, Eddy's.
Not sure if she has any more, though.
It's like two blocks that way.
- [INDISTINCT VOICES]
- [CHILD CRYING]
You okay, honey? Are you okay, honey?
Yes. Thank you for your help.
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [BABY CRYING]
[INDISTINCT FOLK SONG PLAYING]
[YOUNG DORA]: Bezhig?
Bezhig?
[DORA COUGHING]
[YOUNG MAN]: Spare change? [GUITAR NOTE]
[VEHICLE HONKING]
Yeah.
- [COINS CLINKING]
- Thank you, Sister.
[VEHICLE HONKING]
[INDISTINCT COUNTRY SONG PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
What can I get you?
May I get a glass of red wine, please?
Yeah, I think we got
wine back here somewhere.
Thank you.
Thank you.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[INDISTINCT COUNTRY SONG PLAYING]
Excuse me?
Are you Dora Mueller?
What do you want?
I've been looking for you.
Well, who the fuck are you?
I'm your sister.
I went to child protective services,
and they gave me your name.
- They said you were looking for family.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, yeah.
- I'm Bezhig.
- [BOTH CRYING]
- Holy shit! Holy shit!
Oh, my God!
This whole time, I was like,
"I know I have a sister
out there somewhere."
I didn't know if I was
making it up or what.
[SNIFFLING]
Where have you been?
Where the fuck have you been?
[DORA CRYING]
Look so fancy.
You are so pregnant.
Yes. Yeah, I'm pregnant.
Holy fuck!
Hahahaha!
My sister Bezhig.
[DORA CRYING]
[BIRDS SINGING] [DOG BARKING]
[SIREN BLARING]
This is your car?
Well, no, it's a rental.
Okay, cool.
Okay
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
[SEATBELT CLICKING]
So, are you rich or something?
[BEZHIG SCOFFS]
No. Not compared to the
people who are really rich.
- You look so good.
- [DORA CHUCKLES]
Thanks. What did you
think I'd look like?
I mean, I didn't know what to think.
I had to find you through the police,
and I saw some charges.
And I just got worried.
Don't assume shit about me just
'cause you read some fucking file.
- You don't know me!
- Sorry.
I didn't mean to offend you.
I'm just really happy to find you.
That's all.
So what now?
Can we start over?
I was rude, and
I shouldn't have made
assumptions about you.
- [DORA LAUGHING]
- Do you always talk like that?
Are you a teacher or something?
A lawyer.
Well, not yet but soon.
Holy, just a lawyer? Haha!
Jesus Christ!
No wonder you thought I was
all fucking down-and-out.
Hahahaha! Geez.
I'm just kidding, fuck.
Do you wanna come to my mansion
and meet my man or what?
If we stay around here much
longer, people are gonna
think we're fucking
dealing or some shit.
- Sure.
- Yeah, let's go.
You should probably
put your seatbelt on.
Why, 'cause it's the law?
[DORA LAUGHING]
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING OVER RADIO]
Well, you know I'm not praying from ♪
♪♪
Oh, take a left up here.
- Okay.
- [FLASHER CLICKING]
Someone to love ♪
Just a little while ♪
Anywhere here is fine.
Though those first
few months were lovely ♪
So, Eddy seemed like a nice place.
No, it's not. It's fucking gross.
But he pays me under the table,
so I can still collect
my welfare cheques.
Okay. Great.
[COUNTRY SONG ENDS]
- [DOGS BARKING]
- [INDISTINCT SPEAKING]
Come in. Over here.
Wow.
It's a cute little house
in a nice neighbourhood.
[SIREN BLARING]
- [INDISTINCT SONG PLAYING]
- Baby? Guess what.
- Hey.
- [MAN]: Hey.
- What, you're pregnant?
- [LAUGHING]: Yeah.
Baby, um, this is my sister.
Wow!
- Shit! Oh!
- Hahaha!
Okay. Uh I'm Doug.
- Esther.
- Good to meet you.
Wow!
I don't even know what to say. Uh
I know. [CHUCKLING]
Well, sister, uh,
come have a seat. Can
I take your jacket?
Oh, yeah, sure.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, no problem.
- Thank you.
- Uh
- Baby, you need anything?
- Uh, just a water, please.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
[DORA EXHALES]
So, I put my name in the
child protective services,
like, um, four years ago,
you know, for family and, um
I wasn't even looking looking.
Um I just needed a place to stay.
- Here she is.
- Yeah, you ordered her up.
Yeah. [DORA CHUCKLING]
Hoho! Oh, man,
even baby thought that was funny.
- Haha!
- She's doing somersaults.
[DORA EXHALES SLOWLY]
Feel.
[DORA CLEARS HER THROAT]
There's a million wishing ♪
Baby girl, it's your auntie, Bezhig.
Hahaha!
[DORA SNIFFLES]
Just let it go ♪
Man, I didn't even think this
baby would have any aunties.
I met your adoptive family.
What?
Well, it was one of the first places
I went to, you know, try to find you.
Your mom seemed cold, but
your brother seemed nice.
Fuck them.
Yeah, I got the sense it
didn't really go well with them.
It doesn't matter.
They didn't win.
[DORA TAKES A DEEP BREATH]
Seems like Dora hit the jackpot
with you for an older sister.
Maybe you becoming a
lawyer and all that.
I don't know about that.
This girl,
let me tell you something,
you hit the jackpot too.
Come on, stop.
For real though. The way
you pulled yourself up,
like getting your GED and all that.
Hope it's okay to say,
but when I first met her,
she was this scrappy little angry ball.
[CHUCKLING] Now you put your hand
on her shoulder, she'd
jump like a stray cat.
She's been through a lot.
But there ain't nothing
keeping her down,
ain't that right, Mom?
I'm sorry you had to
go through all that.
It made me stronger.
Working my way up to
own my own restaurant
and working shifts for whoever
will put me on the schedule,
you know.
It's tough pulling gigs
when you got a record.
Yeah, well, you're a great cook,
so I don't see why it won't work out.
Getting tired, Mama?
Yeah.
I am so happy that we met.
I've been staring
at these photos that your
brother gave me just
not sure if I'd find you.
Oh. And your brother wanted me
to tell you that he misses you
and he thinks about you a lot.
- Fuck this. Fucking done.
- What?
Doug, tell her to go the fuck home!
What? I'm I'm sorry. I
- Shit, she's gonna be fine.
- I don't know what I said.
- I don't know what happened.
- It's gonna be fine,
no worries.
Just leave me your number.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
It's okay, it is. She
she'll come around.
It's only me.
Doing your homework?
- I'm gettin' it done.
- Yeah.
Where where are Mom and Dad?
Just in the basement, uh
Just watching TV.
They they can't hear.
Can I see that?
You have on lipstick.
No, no, no. That's
It looks really good.
Really good.
[FAST TICKING]
[BRIEF CRYING]
[SNIFFLES] [VIOLIN AND GUITAR MUSIC]
Sounds of the night ♪
- Colours of the dawn ♪
- He's your brother!
- Come to me sadly ♪
- Your brother!
- Saying you are gone ♪
- Please!
- Gone to the lakes ♪
- Out! Get out!
- Out where?
- Gone far from me ♪
Now to do as you please ♪
- Leaving me ♪
- [SCREAMING]
- Walking down ♪
- Stop it! Mom!
To the arms ♪
- Of my town ♪
- You're a whore!
Ojibwe star ♪
Once we were one ♪
- [KNOCKING ON DOOR]
- [DORA]: Mom! Let me in! Mom!
Ojibwe star ♪
You're gone ♪
- [DOORBELL RINGS]
- Long gone ♪
[DORA]: Please let get me get my stuff!
- Our city lights ♪
- [KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Yellow and green ♪
Light the cold streets ♪
Where you and I have been ♪
- Mom!
- Wiser than me ♪
To leave them behind ♪
Leaving me someday ♪
To make up my mind ♪
Where it is ♪
- I belong ♪
- [BEZHIG CRYING]
How was it ♪
I went wrong ♪
Ojibwe star ♪
- [CRYING]
- Once we were one ♪
[CRYING]
Ojibwe star ♪
You're gone, long gone ♪
- [CRYING]
- [PHONE RINGING]
[SNIFFLES]
- Hi.
- Hello.
This is Adele Halpern calling.
Hello?
Yes?
You're still in town?
Yes.
How long will you be here?
[SNIFFLES]
I'm not sure.
I was just thinking.
If you were still here and
you wanted to sightsee,
You should go to the Qu'Appelle Valley.
The scenery is absolutely gorgeous.
It's not to be missed.
Thank you.
Mrs. Halpern?
I recommend visiting Long Pine Reserve.
The views over the valley
are just spectacular.
[SCRIBBLING SOUNDS]
Thank you, thank you. I
[DIAL TONE]
[HANGS UP PHONE]
[SIGHS]
[EXHALES SLOWLY]
- [PEOPLE COUGHING]
- Take all the time you need.
Can you hear me, son?
Morris, talk to me, son.
Say something.
Dad?
I tried, Morris.
I tried.
I'm so sorry.
[KISSES HIS HAND]
[WOMAN WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY]
["GOD IS ALIVE, MAGIC IS
AFOOT" BY BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE]
God is alive ♪
Magic is afoot ♪
God is alive ♪
Magic is afoot ♪
God is afoot ♪
Magic is alive ♪
Alive is afoot ♪
Magic never died ♪
God never sickened ♪
Many poor men lied ♪
Many sick men lied ♪
Magic never weakened ♪
Magic never hid ♪
Magic always ruled ♪
God is afoot ♪
God never died ♪
God was ruler ♪
Though his funeral lengthened ♪
Though his mourners thickened ♪
Magic never fled ♪
Though his shrouds were hoisted ♪
The naked God did live ♪
Though his words were twisted ♪
The naked Magic thrived ♪
Though his death was published ♪
Round and round the world ♪
The heart did not believe ♪
Many hurt men wondered ♪
Many struck men bled ♪
Magic never faltered ♪
Magic always led ♪
Many stones were rolled ♪
But God would not lie down ♪
Many wild men lied ♪
Many fat men listened ♪
Though they offered stones ♪
Magic still was fed ♪
Though they locked their coffers ♪
God was always served ♪
Magic is afoot ♪
God rules ♪
Alive is afoot ♪
Alive is in command ♪
Many weak men hungered ♪
Many strong men thrived ♪
Though they boasted solitude ♪
God was at their side ♪
Nor the dreamer in his cell ♪
Nor the captain on the hill ♪
Magic is alive ♪
Though his death was pardoned ♪
Round and round the world ♪
The heart did not believe ♪
Though laws were carved in marble ♪
They could not shelter men ♪
Though altars built in parliaments ♪
They could not order men ♪
Police arrested Magic ♪
And Magic went with them ♪
For Magic loves the hungry ♪
But Magic would not tarry ♪
It moves from arm to arm ♪
It would not stay with them ♪
Magic is afoot ♪
It cannot come to harm ♪
It rests in an empty palm ♪
It spawns in an empty mind ♪
But Magic is no instrument ♪
Magic is the end ♪
Many men drove Magic ♪
And Magic stayed behind ♪
Many strong men lied ♪
They only passed through Magic ♪
And out the other side ♪
Many weak men lied ♪
They came to God in secret ♪
And though they left him nourished ♪
They would not tell who healed ♪
Though mountains danced before them ♪
- AAAAH!
- They said God was dead ♪
Though his shrouds were hoisted ♪
- [HER SCREAM ECHOES]
- The naked God did live ♪
This I mean to whisper to my mind ♪
This I mean to laugh with in my mind ♪
This I mean my mind to serve ♪
'Til service is but Magic
moving through the world ♪
And mind itself is Magic
coursing through the flesh ♪
And flesh itself is Magic ♪
Dancing on a clock ♪
And time itself ♪
The magic length of God ♪
[GUITAR MUSIC]
[BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE VOCALIZING]
♪♪
God is alive ♪
Magic is afoot ♪
God is alive ♪
Magic is afoot ♪
God is afoot Magic is alive ♪
Alive is afoot ♪
Magic never died ♪
God never sickened ♪
Many poor men lied ♪
Many sick men lied ♪
Magic never weakened ♪
Magic never hid ♪
Magic always ruled ♪
God is afoot ♪
God never died ♪
God was ruler ♪
Though his funeral lengthened ♪
Though his mourners thickened ♪
Magic never fled ♪
Though his shrouds were hoisted ♪
The naked God did live ♪
Though his words were twisted ♪
The naked Magic thrived ♪